Alabama Football: Coach Nick Saban's Holiday Wish List

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesAlabama head coach Nick Saban has a few challenges to prepare his team for in advance of the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma.

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For the first time in the last three seasons, the holiday wish list for supporters of Alabama’s football program won’t include a victory in the BCS national title game.

However, with the recent finalization of Nick Saban’s contract extension, Tide fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that college football’s current premier coach will reside in Tuscaloosa for the foreseeable future.

With Saban in the fold for the long haul, there are a few adjustments he and his staff will look to make in in advance of the Sugar Bowl matchup against Oklahoma on Jan. 2., as well as others that will come before the 2014 season.

4. Find Clarity in Race to Pick McCarron’s Successor

For the final time in his career, recent Maxwell Award winner and Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron will lead the Tide into battle against the Sooners.

However, with the added practices the team gets during bowl preparation, Saban will get a chance to view the progress of some of his younger players who will be counted upon next year.

In particular, he will have his eyes on a group of quarterbacks who are competing for the right to succeed McCarron.

While there isn’t a clear-cut favorite in a competition that could include as many as six different players, Saban will get some extra time to see if one of the participants in the derby can gain some separation before spring practice.

3. No More Questions About His Future

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Since the regular season ended for the Tide last month, the biggest drama surrounding the team involved Saban’s future.

Although his name had been linked to the Texas job for much of the year, Tide fans likely exhaled when the university announced an extension that will net Saban a salary of $7 million per season, according to Nick Bromberg of Yahoo! Sports.

During his tenure at Alabama, Saban has resisted overtures from NFL clubs and several schools. His latest extension is another strong signal that Tuscaloosa will be the final destination of his illustrious coaching career.

2. A Focused Team on Jan. 2

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Considering the Tide’s recent history of playing in BCS title games and the way the season ended with a heartbreaking last-second loss to archrival Auburn, there are skeptics who doubt whether Alabama enters the Sugar Bowl with the motivation necessary to compete at a high level.

However, this game represents an opportunity for the Tide to erase their bitter defeat in the season finale and end their season with a third consecutive BCS bowl victory.

Saban’s main goal is to get his team to forget about those questions and focus on delivering a strong effort against the Sooners.